Page 104 of Big Bad Wolfe

“No,” Jillian and Zane both said at the same time.

Richard sneered. “Refusing visitation, threats, attempted assault,” he ground out. “Oh, you two will look like perfect parents in court.”

“Leave.” Zane’s quiet order was rock steady … and ice-cold. “While you’re still able.”

“I’m calling my attorney.” Richard whirled and stalked out, slamming the door behind him.

Zane turned to look at Jillian and the wounded look in his eyes sliced her to ribbons. “Zane—”

A shudder wracked his lean frame. “He’s right.” The shaky admission sounded wrenched from his soul. “I’d begun to hope that maybe …” He swallowed. “But my family history … I can’t be involved in Casey’s life.”

“Don’t listen to that idiot’s ridiculous lies. You’ve been doing great.”

“Dumb luck.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t call losing the kid in the store, forgetting to feed him, and turning a bunch of curtain-climbers loose in the kitchen ‘doing great.’”

“That’s not true! You’re a natural. And if you’re really worried about it, there are plenty of how-to books and videos and parenting classes.”

He shook his head. “You don’t know how close I came to losing it at dinner and reaming him out.”

“But you didn’t. You kept your temper—”

“This time.” Raw pain shadowed his irises, regret thrummed in his voice. “But it’s only a matter of time until I pull a major screw-up and do or say something that really hurts him.”

“Zane, abuse is behavioral,nothereditary. You’ve shown no signs of being abusive, in any way.”

He turned his back on her. “It’s getting late, and I need to keep my promise to show him those constellations.” He strode out.

Trembling, she stumbled to the darkened kitchen. Zane had cleaned up everything and loaded the dishwasher, leaving her nothing to do. She propped her elbows on the counter and stared out through the open window. The ocean’s muted hum and the warm summer breeze wafted over her. Crickets chirped a sing-song chorus from the bushes.

They’d suffered a damaging setback, but she was more determined than ever to prove Zane wrong.

Because hewaswrong. The proof was in front of her eyes.

A crescent moon illuminated the backyard. She watched as Zane settled into one of the chaise lounges on the deck. Casey climbed up beside him, and Zane supported the child by sliding an arm around him.

Their conversation carried clearly in the quiet night. Gilded silver by the moonlight, Casey’s small face looked raptly skyward while Zane held his son and pointed out constellations. Casey’s high-pitched voice echoed Zane’s deeper one as he repeated every name.

The little boy and the man had more in common than they realized. Both had suffered loss.

Both craved love and affection.

Each one needed the other.

She wasn’t about to give up on either of them.

Casey’s voice grew soft and blurry. Safe and content in Zane’s arms, he was falling asleep.

“My daddy is up there,” he murmured.

“Where?” Zane asked, his expression startled. “In Heaven?”

“No, he’s flying around in the stars. He’s a rebel smuggler like Han Solo, fighting the bad guys. That’s why he can’t be with me.”

Jillian pressed trembling lips together. Deb had told Casey his father was absent because he had a very dangerous, important job. The child’s imagination had obviously embellished the rest. That certainly explained his fascination withStar Wars.

Zane inhaled a shuddering breath. “Your dad would be here if he could.” He paused. “It’s not because he doesn’t want to.”

“Ya think?” Casey’s words sounded slurred. He was nearly asleep. “He has a real important job, keeping everybody safe. But I miss him.”

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